Diocletian

C. Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus

Dynasty: Tetrachy

Augustus (AD 284-305)

Diocletian was commander of the imperial bodyguard hen he was appointed emperor following the death of Numerian. He defeated Numerian's brother Carinus to become sole emperor, but quickly appointed a colleague, Maximianus, to share the burden. He soon went further and appointed two Caesars to aid and eventually succeed them. This system was known as the Tetrarchy. Diocletian also reorganised the provinces and legions, and reformed the coinage. After a reign of twenty years, he and Maximianus abdicated so that their Caesars, Constantius and Galerius, could inherit. Without Diocletian's will, however, the Tetrarchy soon fell apart

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Obverse Legends on coins depicting Diocletian

For explanations of many of the abbreviations used in Roman imperial obverse legends, click here.

• DIOCLETIANO SEN AVG
• DIOCLETIANVS AVG
• DIOCLETIANVS AVG COS IIII PP
• DIOCLETIANVS AVG ET MAXIMIANVS C
• DIOCLETIANVS AVGVSTVS
• DIOCLETIANVS BAE AVG
• DIOCLETIANVS P AVG
• DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG
• DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG COS VIII
• DN DIOCLETIANO AETER AVG
• DN DIOCLETIANO BAEATISS
• DN DIOCLETIANO BAEATISS SEN AVG
• DN DIOCLETIANO BAEATISSIMO SEN AVG
• DN DIOCLETIANO FELICISS AVG
• DN DIOCLETIANO FELICISS SEN AVG
• DN DIOCLETIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG
• DN DIOCLETIANO PF S AVG
• IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS AVG
• IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG
• IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG
• IMP C VAL DIOCLETIANVS AVG
• IMP C VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG
• IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG
• IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG ET MAXIMIANVS AVG
• IMP DIOCLETIANVS ET MAXIMIANVS NC
• IMP DIOCLETIANVS P FEL AVG
• IMP DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG
• IMP DIOCLETIANVS PIVS AVG
• IMP DIOCLETIANVS PIVS F AVG
• VIRTVS DIOCLETIANI AVG

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Coins of Diocletian currently available

Currently there are no coins available for this person.